Kalamazoo/St. Joseph County Regional Softball Roundup

Esman threw a complete game for the Blue Devils, finishing with 12 strikeouts, while allowing one run on three hits. Esman also contributed with her bat, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.

After two scoreless innings, Gull Lake got on the board with two runs in the third inning when Ashton Whitman hit a 2-RBI single, scoring Erika Hubbard and Shelby Martell.

In the fourth inning, Gull Lake added to its lead, when Esman hit a two-out, 2-RBI single to right field. The Blue Devils again had a two-run inning, this time in the sixth inning, when Hubbard scored on a sacrifice bunt from Martell, and Martell scored on a sacrifice fly from Esman.

W- Lauren Esman: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K

Howell 5, Gull Lake 0 (championship)

The Blue Devils only came up with two hits against Howell ace Molly Carney, who struck out 12 in the complete-game shutout. Howell plated a run in the third, one in the sixth and finished with three runs in the seventh.

Esman gave up nine hits and five earned runs with eight strikeouts for Gull Lake, which ended the year with a 25-8 record. She had both the Blue Devils’ hits.

Division 2

Lakeshore 7, Three Rivers 0 (semifinals)

Three Rivers couldn’t come up with an answer for Lakeshore starting pitcher Taylor Simon, and the Wildcats fell 7-0 in the Division 2 Regional Semifinal.

Simon pitched a complete game shutout for Lakeshore, with 12 strikeouts and only three hits allowed.

Lakeshore took an early lead with four runs in the second inning, and put the game away with one run in the sixth inning and two runs in the seventh inning.

Emma Thatcher was the lone Wildcat to get anything going at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a double. Amy Jo Tavernier had the other hit for Three Rivers.

The Wildcats conclude the season with a 37-4 record.

W- Taylor Simon: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 12 K

L- Kylee Nash: 7.0 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Division 3

Constantine 3, Schoolcraft 0 (semifinals)

Mercedes Cole did just about everything for Constantine on Saturday, during a 3-0 win over Schoolcraft.

A four-hit performance at the plate was only part of Cole’s contribution, as she also pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout, with 13 strikeouts.

Constantine scored three runs in the first inning, which proved to be plenty for Cole. The Falcons struck first when Kim Maddox hit a one-out double to bring in Cole. Trasandra Ragsdale and Bailey Rodewald each added an RBI in the inning.

Constantine finished with 11 hits, but left eight runners stranded. In addition to Cole’s big day at the plate, Brianna Herrick had three hits, including a double. Ragsdale had a pair of singles.

Schoolcraft’s season comes to a close, with a 29-4 record. Mikayla Meade had a pair of singles, and Adrienne Rosey had a single. Rosey took over in the pitcher’s circle for Meade, and threw five scoreless innings.

W- Mercedes Cole: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 13 K

L- Mikayla Meade: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Coloma 5, Constantine 1 (championship)

Six Constantine errors contributed to three unearned runs in a title game that otherwise was fairly even statistically. The Falcons finished with six hits and Coloma had seven.

Coloma starter Hutsell was responsible for one earned run and she struck out 10 in the win. Constantine’s Mercedes Cole struck out seven. Coloma scored a run in the first and two in the third for a 3-1 advantage, adding a run apiece in the sixth and seventh frames.

Cole had two hits for Constantine, while Kim Maddox, Trasandra Ragsdale, Bailey Rodewald and Kiki Price had one apiece.

Division 4

Centreville 7, Decatur 5 (semifinals)

Kaylee Trattles came through with a 2-RBI double in the eighth inning, and Centreville was able to fend off Decatur, 7-5.

Centreville led throughout most of the game, as starting pitcher Hannah Duchene had allowed only one run in the first five innings. With the Bulldogs leading 5-4, Decatur stormed back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. The two teams were scoreless in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings and setting the stage for the big base knock from Trattles.

Duchene had a strong day at the plate, hitting a home run and a double, bringing in 3 RBI for the Bulldgos. Olivia Deeds also brought in two runs for Centreveille.

McKenzie Sheteron and Kenleigh West Wing both had three-hit days, and combined for three runs scored.

W- Hannah Duchene: 8.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

L- E. Whitlow: 8.0 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Kalamazoo Christian 11, Marcellus 1 – five innings (semifinals)

Dominance from the pitcher’s circle and a big day at the plate helped Kalamazoo Christian make quick work of Marcellus, with an 11-1 win in five innings.

Starting pitcher Jayme Koning allowed one run in the first inning, but settled down from there, finishing with one run on three hits in five innings pitched. Koning was backed by strong play at the plate, including Clare Dirksen, who went 2-for-3 with a double, and drove in four runs. Koning helped her own cause at the plate, with a double, two walks drawn, and 1 RBI.

Trailing 1-0 after the first inning, the Comets answered back quickly with two runs in the second inning, three runs in the third inning, and a six-run fourth inning that broke the game open.

Stephanie Richardson, Megan Snook and Nyla De Jong all drove in one run each.

W- Jayme Koning: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

L- C. Carpenter: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

*The championship game between Kalamazoo Christian and Centreville was moved due to poor field conditions. The final will be Monday at 3 pm.